Coil winder

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for winding a strand about a core. A pair of spaced rotatable elements are provided on which sufficient strand is wound to completely wind the core. Mechanism is provided for driving the rotatable elements to deliver the strand to be wound on a suitably supported core. Means is provided for sequentially and automatically picking off the wraps of strand wound off the rotatable elements, each picking off step being accomplished only after the prior strand wrap has been substantially wound onto the core.

United States Patent l2/l907 Sinclair........................

John E. Tillman 269/ 1 3 I 269/ l 30 242/4 242/4 X 242/4 242/4 u n m m r U m w u w n.me u AKKMB 101.] 26666 99999 11111 Ill/l 20498 1 334306 283986 ,J. 487780 0 765705 399 12231 9 5 r m 2 3 M M" N m %H m .10, 4 0|.L u 0 ..m3kN u mmwiwm A7DDP. r 0 m e v my AF 1. ill 2 I211 7 221 .l [1.1

lnlcnted Aug. 17. I971 1 [73] Assignee Leesonu Corporation I Warwlck,R.l.

s4 COILWINDER H0 ABSTRACT: Apparatus for winding a strand about a core. A

pair of spaced rotatable elements are provided on which sul'ticient strand is wound to completely wind the core. Mechanism 'B65h81/02- [50] Field 269/130, 132, 131,9 is rovided for driving the rotatable elements to deliver the strand to be wound on a suitably supported core. Means is provided for sequentially and automatically picking off the wraps of strand wound off the rotatable elements, each picking off step being accomplished only after the prior strand [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Fial' $291 99 we: er

r 'haieemys an PATENTED Aus I 7 IHYI SHEET 2 BF 3 a gg mw BY ,w

PATENTED AUG] 7 I921 59 9 3 4 sum 3 0F 3 /59 A /59 [59 B C I IN VENTOR.

W BY '1'" M COILWINDER Pat. No. 3,451,637.

This invention relates broadly to the art of winding'wire I strands about forms, and in itsmore specific aspects; it relates to techniques which I have developed for winding extremely V fine wire on extremely small forms, wherein subs'tantiallyall of the winding operation is automatically accomplished; and the nature and objects of the invention will bereadily recognized and understood by those skilled in the arts to which it relates in the light of the following explanation and detailed description of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I at present believe to be preferred embodiments or mechanical expressions of my invention from among various other forms, arrangements, combinations and constructions, of whieh'the invention is capable withinthe-spirit and scope thereof.

This invention is basically concerned with techniques which I have developed'to wind extremely fine wire on extremely small forms, which may be toroid forms. My winding apparatus has been successful in winding wire as small as 0.001 in. on extremely small toroid coil forms. One of the reasons, among many, which has made my apparatus successful,

' resides in the fact that the apparatus for winding which I have developed eliminates the shuttle which is conventionally-used in toroid coil winding machines. In my invention which, as l have stated, eliminates the usual shuttle, thecore must accommodate only the wire in its'hole or opening inthe winding operation, and not the wirewound on the shuttle as in prior art machines of this general character.

In the art of winding small strands of wire about forms'of small size, which may be toroid forms, it has-heretofore been necessary-to manually pick off a length of the wire strand to be wound about the form or core, and then to wind this length about the core, and then continue to manually pick off each length of wire strand to be wound. It will be appreciated that this former method of manual picking each strand or length of so positioned and maintained thatitwill not become twistedor kinked so that the core winding-operation could not be successfully carried out without stopping the entire process and placing the slack in the proper untwisted position.

One of the problems which has been encountered in'prior wire winding machines of this nature, of whichl' am aware, revolves about the possibility of the slack or loose strand .of

wire which is being wound, being broken when 'the slack thereof is wound aboutthe core, and thus is consumed: When this step in the process isreached, if the operator of the apparatus fails to stop the winding operation until another slack length of wire is picked out, the wire may be broke n'which will require extra time and work. This objectionablecharacteristic Inthe conventional wire windingapparatus of the priorart, the pulley system upon which the wireis wound constitutes part'of the apparatus. 1 Y

I have provided an appreciable advance in this art by so I designing my pulley system and mechanism as a separate assembly or part so that it may be threaded or loaded while it is separated from the remainder of the wire winding apparatus. The advantages of such a constructionandarrangement will be readily recognized by one who is skilled in this art;

In one form of my invention, I have evolved a mechanism which is completelyautomatic to provide the necessary slack in the .wire strand being, wound, and this arrangement eliminates the necessity for stopping the driveof the apparatus and slightly reversing it so as to produce the necessary slack.

In this invention, I have provided a combination automatic wire-slack producingmeans and rotary means whereby the.

coreis .beingwoundso-that the winding overthe entire area of the core is facilitated.

With the foregoing general objects, features and results in view, as well as certain others which willbe apparent from the following explanation, the invention consists in certain novel features in design, construction, mounting and combination of elements, as will be more fully and particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of one form of my coil winder.

FIG. 2. is a view inside elevation of thercoil winder illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of the coil winder taken on line 33of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is aview in-perspective illustrating a further view of my coil winder.

FIG. 5 is a detailed viewof the compressed air outlet mechanism for forming loose strand of wire for winding .on the core.

FIG; 6 is an exploded view -of the core holder.

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective illustrating the pulley assembly prior to combination with the coil winder apparatus.

F IG.'8 is a diagrammatic view of three steps involved in the winding operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 1, 2 and .3.

FIGJD is'a diagrammatic view of three steps involved in the winding operation of the apparatus of FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is adetailed view illustrating the biased mountingiof themountingand supporting pulley of FIG. 4.-

. In the accompanying drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1

through 3 thereof, I have used the numeral -1 'to designate the beformed of any'suitablematerial, is preferably of rectangular configuration, and issturdy enough to support the coil winder apparatus. Adjacent to, but removed from :one side of the base '1, Iz'provide anupstandi'ng supporting element '3 which is fixed upstanding supporting element 3- maybe formed of .any suitable and desirable-materialhaving sufficient strength to support of prior wire winding apparatus has been eliminated inthe apparatus which I have developed and am disclosingherein, for l have provided automatic safety means-which eliminates the possibility of the strand being broken in the event that the winding operation is not stopped at the proper time.

This invention also provides unique and novel meansfor holding the core in the winding operation. The core is removably mounted and attached to this means in a simple and expeditious manner, and the core itself issupported and mounted on the safety device in one form of my invention, and

various operating elements of the apparatus, aswillbe explaineti hereinafter.

I provide what I shallterm a drive pulleys, having .a grooved wireireceiving rim, from the inner or one side of the pulleyextendsa drive shaft 7 which extends through and is journaled in the upstanding supporting element '3-as at 9, andextends from theopposite sideofthe upstanding supporting element 3as at 'lwlgand at this'projecting end, the stub shaft l l isfixed toa gear '13. The drive'shaft'7 which-is journaled within .the upstanding supporting element3' to extend,,-froni both sides thereof may, if desired, be operatively contained within a h'ousingll'S. n

I provide 'apinion or drive. gear l7.having an inwardly extendingsliaftl9which is fixed'thereto and -is journaled as at 2l-within the upstanding supporting element 3; The drive shaft 19 extendsthrough the drive gear l7..toprovide an-outments which are fixed to opposite sides of the drive gear 17, and if desired, they may be mounted in a housing. Fixed to the stub shaft 23 and extending radially therefrom is a lever or handle 25, preferably provided on its outennost end with a handhold knob 27. It will thus be apparent that upon the rotary actuation of the handle lever 25, the drive gear orpinion 17 will be caused to rotate, and since this drive gear or pinion 17 is in mesh with the teeth of gear 13, it will be caused to rotate, as will the pulley 5.

Disposed below and in mesh with the gear 13 is an idler gear 29 to which is fixed a shaft 31 which extends rearwardly to and is journaled within the upstanding supporting element 3 as at 32. I provide a further gear 33 which is in mesh with the idler gear 29 and is driven thereby. An inwardly extending shaft 35 is fixed to the gear 33 and is journaled as at 38 in the upstanding supporting element 3 and extends therethrough and rear wardly therefrom as at 36. At the inner end of the shaft 36 is fixed a further pulley 37, having a grooved strand receiving rim. Consideration of the drawings clearly indicates that the pulleys and 37 are vertically spaced apart, and as will become apparent'as this description proceeds, it is about these pulleys that the strand of wire to be wound around the core is threaded. It will be understood that shafts 35 and 36 may, if desired, be encased in a housing.

It will now be appreciated that through the gear train which I have described, both the pulleys 5 and 37 will be simultaneously rotated when the operating handle 25 is actuated or rotated. It is to be distinctly understood that 1 may use any suitable type of gearing arrangement or drive mechanismfor the pulleys 5 and 37, and that such mechanism will fall within the spirit and scope of this invention.

In the form of my invention now being described, I provide a pulley shield designated by the numeral 39, and this pulley shield may be formed of any suitable sheetlike relatively light material, and is fastened adjacent to but in position slightly spaced from the surfaces of the pulleys 5 and 37 which face away from the upstanding supporting element 3. The shield 39 is mounted in proper position adjacent to but spaced from the pulleys, as explained, by one or more mounting studs 41 which are fixed to the shield and extend therefrom to the upstanding supporting element 3 to which they are fixed. It will be noted that these studs extend from the upstanding supporting element to the shield in an area constituting the spacing between the two pulleys.

Mounted in and extending from the upstanding supporting element 3 are a pair of shafts 43 which extend rearwardly from said supporting element and at their inner ends rotatively mount a pair of idler pulleys 45, such pulleys being mounted relative to pulley 5 so that a tension belt 47 extending around such pulleys will engage the upper surface of the pulley 5 as at 49 serving to hold the strands of wire or material on the pulley 5 during the threading operation. A similar arrangement is provided for pulley 37, such arrangement comprising a pair of shafts 51 which are mounted in the upstanding supporting element 3, and each of these shafts 51 rotatively mounts a pulley 53 on its inner end. About this pair of pulleys a tension belt 59 is threaded, such belt being in engagement as at 61 with the lower surface of the pulley 37 to maintain the strands of wire in proper position on the pulley during the threading operation. Y

A significant part of the apparatus which l have evolved for efficiently and expeditiously accomplishing the winding of an extremely small strand of wire about an extremely small core, comprises a frame which 1 have designated in its entirety by the numeral 63. Such frame 63 comprises a rear element 65 which is operatively mounted and supported from an upper and a lower stud 67, each of which is fixed to the upstanding supporting element 3 and extends rearwardly therefrom and through the top and bottom of the element 65 and is main-" studs extending through the plastic sheet and the plastic sheet being maintained in taut or stretched position therebetween. The plastic sheet 71 is maintained in operative position properly spaced from the element 65 by means of felt or the like upper and lower spacer elements 73. In order to adjustably maintain the plastic sheet in proper position relative to the pulley shield 39 and the element 65, I provide a coil spring 75 which encircles each stud 67 and extends from and between the plastic sheet 71 and a bushing or the like 77 which is fixed to the upstanding supporting element 3 and extends a distance rearwardly therefrom. Consideration of the drawings clearly indicates that the plastic sheet 71 is maintained in tensioned position spaced from the frame element 65 and from the pulley shield 39, and it will further be evident that the area between the plastic sheet 71 and thepulley shield 39 may be varied as to depth by adjusting the nuts 69 to move the frame and the plastic sheet either toward or away from the fixed pulley shield 39. The area, which I shall designate by the numeral 79, which is provided between the plastic sheet and the pulley shield, comprises the area into which a loose strand of thread is projected in the functioning of the apparatus, as will be explained in detail hereinafter.

In FIG. 6 of the drawings, 1 have illustrated in detail the core holder by which the core which is being wound by the apparatus is held or maintained in the necessary and desired position during the winding operation. 1 have designated this assembly in its entirety by the numeral 79, and the core holder 79 comprises a blocklike holder or body 81, which is preferably, though not necessarily of rectangular configuration, with the exception that its forward or operating end is tapered or pointed as at 83. In the upper surface of the holder or body 81 is formed a slot 85 which extends rearwardly from the point 83 to and through the rear surface of the body. A circular opening 87 providing an adjusting area is formed in the upper surface of the body to extend into the slot. The rcferencenumeral 89 has been used to designate the core which is to be wound with wire, and while I have illustrated an annular core in the drawings, it will, of course, be understood that various other types and shapes of cores may be wound by the apparatus which 1 have devised. The core 89 is removably attached to the holder or body 81 by means of a tape or band which I have designated generally by the numeral 91. This tape may be made of any suitable material, as an example, it may be made of a plastic tape or 0.001 inches thick Mylar. The core holding tape or band 91, comprises a single length of tape having a core holding loop 93 at its forward end which encircles and holds the core 89. Obviously, the loop in the tape will be of a diameter or shape which conforms to that of the core to be wound. Extending rearwardly from, and integral with, the loop 1 provide a pair of tape lengths or bands 95, which 1 shall term loop holding bands, these bands being substantially the same length as the length of the slot 85. The core is mounted in operative position on the core holder by encircling the loop 93 about the core 89, and inserting the lengths 95 in the slot 85, so that the core will be positioned and held slightly forwardly of the point or nose 83. The holder or body 81 is bored from the side to provide two spaced apart threaded holes extending into the slot 85. A band or tape holding screw 97 is threaded intothe rearmost hole into holding engagement with the bands, while a band adjusting screw 99 is threaded into the forward hole at the opening 87 in engagement with the band, for varying the tension thereon within the annular opening 87 so as to adjust the position of the core 89 with respect to the nose of the holder or body.

tained in proper position by a pair of adjusting nuts 69. The

frame 63 operatively mounts and supports a plastic sheet 71, which may be formed of Mylar, and this plastic sheet extends to and between the upper stud 67 and the lower stud 67, such The core holder 81 is mounted in operative position by being welded or cemented-on the top end of a core holder mounting sleeve 101 which is mounted for free reciprocation vertically up and down between limits, on an upstanding rod (not shown) which is seated in any suitable clamp or the like 103 which, in turn, is fixed on a plate 105 which is rotatably mounted on the base 1 by any suitable pivot means 107. The sleeve 10] is slotted as at 109 and a pin 111 projects radially from the rod and into the slot to keep the sleeve from turning inits reciprocatory actions-It'should beappre'ciated'that the sleeve isof such a length that the core holder8l in all of its up and down movements on the sleeve 101; is positioned adjacent thearea between the pulleysSand 37; Thepurposof such location will be made clear hereinafter. I

The base l of the apparatus is bored to provide a fluid flow duct 1 I3which extends horizontally. inwardly adistance from an edge of the base. Adjacent theinner end of thedu ct113 is a further duct 115, in" communication with thefirst'named duct and extending vertically therefrom to and through the top of the base. In communication with the duct ll5-is a'vertically disposed fluid flow pipe 117,'which is of a lengthto 'extend above the core holder-8l. At its topthefluidiflow pipe 117 is bent inwardly-providing anextensio'n' 119, and, on its inner end the extension 119 is formed with an outlet, nozzle or fluid accelerator, which I have designated in its entirety by'thenumeral-l-2l. r y

In FIG. 5 of the drawings! have illustrateditheffluid accelerator 121. in detail. As will be apparent from consideration of the drawings, this member is fixed to-the end of theifluid flow extension 119 in any suitable and convenient mannerso that air or other fluidflowing through the extension wilhex 'haust-irito the member 121. Theaccelerator '12liis of'what may well be termed boxlike" construction comprising arear wall 123, from which extend forwardly converging sidewalls 125, which at their forward ends are spaced apart, forming a reduced or constricted exhaust channel 127. The'walls 125 forwardly beyond the restricted exhaust channel 127 may-be of flared configuration as shown at 129. It wil'lnow beapx preciated that the accelerator l2l is formed toiprovide an enlarged chamberl3l; while the velocity of the. fluid flowing I therefrom is substantially increasedby the restrictedexhaust flow channel 127. The purpose and function ofsuch construction will be made clear hereinafter f Referring particularly=to the diagra'mmaticshowing in' FlG. 8 of thedrawings, the general concept of the operation of 'my invention will be clarified. In the first step of placing theap paratus in condition for the winding operationythe-operator first threads a continuous strand 133 over andarou'nd ,both the pulleys 5 and '37 of the apparatus, such strand extending through the core 389 which is held inthe coreholder fil and disclosed in A of FIG. 8 of the drawings. When thisthreading step has been completed, the strand of wire 135. which is to be wound about the core 89 is tied or otherwise. affixed tothe strand 133, as at 137, as shown in diagram A of FIGEBLWhen the wire strand has been tied to strand 133, as explained, the pulleys 5 and 37 are rotated until the desired amount of strand 135 has been wound on the pulleys, thatis, the amount necessary to completely wind the core. In this operation, it will be apparent that the strand 135 will pass through the core 89 and the chamber 131 of accelerator 121.

When the proper length of wire strand 135 has been wound about the pulleys 5 and 37, the end thereof is tied to the core 89,, and the handle is rotated in a counterclockwise direction approximately one-eighth a turn to provide slack 139 in the strand 135, whereupon the handle "25 'is then rotated in a clockwise direction until the slack length is wound about the core 8 9 At all times during the winding operation, compressed air or other pressured fluid is appliedto theaccelerator llland the strand I passingtherethrough, and'it will be recognized-that as long as the-strand is taut, the pres'- suredi fluidwill have no effect thereon. When the slack 1 39 has been cohsumed by winding about the core 89, the operator stops winding in a clockwise direction and reverses the winding approximately one-eighth a turn to thereby loosen the strand running through the accelerator as shown in B of FIG. 8. At this time, the pressured fluid will act on the loose strand and. blow it out of the accelerator and into slack position as shown in diagram B of FIG. 8;"thus, the pressured fluidwill function as a pickoff means for. picking off a length of strand. It will now be understood that l have eliminated the former necessity for a manual pickoff to produce the slack length in:

-the.-strand which'is-wound-about the corefThis operation of reversing the rotation of the handle is repeated until the'entire length of strand'is'wound about the core. Now, oneofthe many: advantageous characteristics ofg'my invention. resides in the fact "that the' slack length 139 will'be blown 'by' the pressured fluidaround the outside of'pulley5, and:between.the

*pulley'shield 39 and;theplastic's'heet I-1.so that it will'be prevented from becoming ki'rike'd, twisted orformed into any other undesired condition which would make the core winding operation difficult if not impossible. It will be understood'that this loose or slack strand which is-positioned between the pulley shield and the sheet will permit the handleto again be rotated in a clockwise direction for winding'of the loose or slack strand about'thezcore. This operation is shown in diagram'C'ofFIGfK Tensionis maintained on theloose strand *b'ecause'of its gpositionbetween the pulley shield and the "plastic =-sheet and because -of the tension supplied by the springs"75.i'For thesake of clarity, the space-between the PHI ley shield and the -:plastic 'sheet is shown enlarged in the drawings.

=I- have'combined a safety feature with my apparatus which is operable in the event the operator does not stop operation of thehan'dlein a clock-wisedirection at the proper time, which would, of course, causebreakage'of thestrand and a resulting stoppage of the operationfiln the event that this occurs, the

strand will cause upward movement of the. coreholder 81 and .thesleevelol, to thereby prevent undue or breaking tautness in the strand'being wound.

:'loose or slack lengthof strandis. repeated until the core-is completely wound with wire.

In. FIG-4 of the drawings, l have disclosed a further form. of my'coil winder which involves certain refinements over the .apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 1 through3, and certain varia- "tions-in structure and'operation, which. in many adaptations will befoun'd to be highly desirable.

Inthis form of my invention, asv-will become apparent as this description is proceeded "with, I have designed the pulley msystem assembly, and its mechanism, .as 'a 'separateunitary to provide the necessary loose strand or=slackwhich-is to be structure so that .this pulley assembly ,may be loaded .or threaded separately from the windingapp'aratus itself. The advantageous characteristics of-such -an arrangement .will be readily recognized by those skilled in the art.

I It has been one of my further purposes to so design the apparatus that the loose or slack strand of material which is to be wound around the core may be disposed on either side of the pulley. assembly and maintained in thisarea during thewinding' operation without any possibility of the loose strand becoming kinked or twiste "This fonn of my invention provides a -novel and unique mechanism whereby the direction. of rotation'of: the pulleys about which the strand is wound need not" be reversed in order wound on the core. I haveevolved a mechanism whereby this is automatically achieved.

The apparatus disclosed especially in FIG. 4 of the drawings comprisesa flat baseil'4l: to which is affixed an upstanding vertical apparatus supporting element.l43.-All of the operatingcomponents of the coil winding-apparatusvare mounted in rotatably support the pulleys which are housed therein. The housing 147 for the pulley system provides in efiect a shield for each side of the pulleys, and a portion of its top is open as at 149, while a portion of its bottom is open as at 151, and at the fear end thereof, 1 provide an opening in the pulley housing which 1 have designated by the numeral 153. Operatively mounted within the housing 147 is an upper drive pulley 155 which is journ'aled for rotation between the two side plates of the housing 147 as at 157, and lprovide a lower drive pulley 159 which is rotatably journaled asat. 161 in the pulley mechanism housing 147. lt will be noted that a portion of the rim 1600f the punt-4159 extends outwardly of the housing 147,'while a p'ortion162 of the rim of the pulley 155 likewise extends beyond the confines of the housing 147. A further pulley 161 is operatively mounted as at 163 within the housing 147, and this pulley 161 functions in a manner, as will be described, to apply tension to the strand of wire 165 which is threaded on and extends between the upper and lower drive pulleys 155 and 159, respectively, such strand also being threaded over the tension pulley 161: which, as will be apparent from consideration of FIG. 7 of the drawings, is operatively mounted rearwardly and outside the vertical plane of the pulleys 151 and 155.

1 provide a pair of spaced apart generally rectangular frame members each being designated in its entirety by the numerals 167 and 169, the spacing of these frame members providing an area therebetween which l have designated by the numeral 171, which provides the area or space in which the pulley mechanism and assembly 145 is inserted into operative position when the winding apparatus is in operation.

Each frame member 167 and 169 comprises a panellike flat surface 173 which has fixed thereto at the top and bottom thereof, flanges 175, the flanges on the frame 169 extending inwardly therefrom toward but spaced from the flanges 175 on the frame 167. Fixed to and extending between the upper and lower flanges 175 on each frame 167 and 169 is a plastic sheet 177, which may be a Mylar sheet, and it will be apparent from consideration of the drawings that the pair of plastic sheets 177 are spaced apart, and that the pulley mechanism and assembly 145 is mounted between these sheets, and each side of the housing 147 is in close proximity to each plastic sheet 177. Any suitable tensioning means may be provided for tensioning the plastic sheets and adjusting the positions thereof with respect to the members 173, and such tensioning means may, if desired, take the general form of the tensioning means shown particularly in FIG. 2 of the drawings and designated by the reference numerals 67, 69 and 75. It also is to be recognized that the inwardly extending flanges 175 may comprise felt or thelike spacing members which may be cemented or otherwise secured to the backing plates or panels 173.

In this form of my invention, the pulleys upon which the strand of wire to be wound on the core is threaded are driven by means of what [shall term a rim drive." As one example, from among many, of an arrangement for rim driving the pulley mechanism, 1 have rotatably joumaled in the member 143 a pair of drive shafts 179 on the inner ends of which are fixed rotary drive pulleys 181 which are disposed in driving engagement with the rim 162 of pulley 155 which extends beyond and outside of the housing 147. Any suitable means, which may be manual or automatic, is provided for rotating the shafts 179 and drive pulleys 181 to consequently drive the pulleys 155, 159 and 161. It will be apparent that the drive shafts 179 extend through the member 173, and that the rearmost plastic sheet 177 may be provided with openings through which such shafts extend, and it will be further appreciated that the drive pulleys 181 are operatively disposed in the area 171 between the stretched plastic sheets 177.

1 provide what [shall term a supporting and mounting pulley 185 which is rotatively supported on a shaft 187 which is mounted in and extends forwardly from the member 143, through members 173 and 177 if the construction is such as to make this necessary. The pulley 185 isspring biased due to the fact thatit's shaft 187 is mounted in a slot 189 and is urged into uppermost position therein by means of a spring 191. Thus, in order to mount the assembly 145 in operative position within the area 171 such assembly is inserted therein with the pulley 161 being inserted first, whereupon pulleys 159 will engage and downwardly depress the supporting and mounting pulley 185 against the biasing urge of spring 191 to permit the assembly 145 to be properly inserted. When such assembly is fully inserted into operative position, the portion 160 of pulley 159 which projects outside of the housing 147 will rest against a rotatable pulley 193 which extends rearwardly through the 1 area 171, the rear plastic sheet'177 and the rear member 173 where it is mounted in the member 143. With the assembly 145 so mounted with the pulley 159 supported on the pulleys 185 and 193, the outwardly extending rim 162 of the drive pulley 155 will be in operative engagement with the two rim drive pulleys 181.

Rotatively mounted in the base plate 141 of my apparatus is a disclike plate 197 from which a drive shaft 199 extends in a bore through the base 141. Any suitable means may be employed for causing rotation of the disclike plate 197 through shaft 199. On the under surface of the plate 197 is a continuous groove 201 which is in communication with a compressed air or fluid line 203 which extends through one side of the base 141 where it is in communication with the aforesaid groove 201 through a vertical duct. Pressured fluid is provided at all times through the line 203 and the bore 205 in the base 141 so that such pressured fluid is at all times within the groove 201 in the under side of the plate 197. Fixed to the plate 197 and extending upwardly therefrom is a tubular member in the form of a post 207 having an open lower end which is mounted on the top of the plate 197 in position above the groove 20] therein, and such plate 197 has an opening 209 therein which is in communication with the tubular post 207 and the groove, so that the pressured air which is contained within the groove 201 will also flow into the tubular post 207 at all times. Operatively mounted on the tubular post 207 is a reciprocatory sleeve 211 which is closed at its upper end as at 213, so that when the sleeve 211 is in its lowermost position on the tubular post 207,.the upper closed end 213 thereon will seat upon the upper open end 215 of the tubular post 207 to thereby close and seal this upper end against the escape therefrom of the pressured air. The core holder 81 "is welded, cemented or otherwise affixed to the upper end of the sleeve 211 and is directed toward the winding assembly so that the core 89 will be in position for receiving therethrough the wire strand to be wound therearound.

1n the operation of the apparatus particularly disclosed in HQ. 4 of the drawings, the loosened strand of wire 217 is wound around the core 89 by the operation of the pulleys and 159 through the rim drive pulleys 181, and when this loosened strand is wound about the core, and the remaining wire which is wound around the pulleys is pulled tight, a continued manual or automatic turning of the pulleys through the drive pulleys 181 will cause the wire to pull up tight on the core 89, the core holder 81 and the sleeve 211, raising these elements upwardly until the closure 213 on the upper end of the sleeve 211 is lifted from the outlet 215 of the tubular post 207 to thereby permit the pressured air to enter the sleeve 211 to thereby apply pressure on the inside of the sleeve 211 which will cause it to move upwardly on the tubular member 207, thereby moving the core holder 81 and the core 89 into the full line position of FIG. 4, thus causing the strand to fall off pulley 155 to create a slack or loose loop in the wire strand as shown at 217.

It will be recognized from consideration of the drawings disclosing this form of my invention that the loose or slack strand of wire 217 may be extended on either side of the casing 147, and between one or the other sides of this casing and one or the other of the stretched plastic sheets 177 to thereby prevent such loose strand 217 from becoming kinked or twisted so that the operation could not be properly proceeded with.

With the pressured fluid acting on the sleeve 211 as described to move the core and core holder into the full line position shown in FIG. 4, the fluid pressure remains active until the loose loop or the slack strand has been pulled over the top pulley 155 and the strand has dropped therefrom to ity for the reverse turn of the actuating mechanism which is essential in. the form of my invention whichis shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

It is also within my contemplation to produce this floating or reciprocal action of the sleeve 211 by mechanical means as well as by fluid pressuremeans.

In FIG. 9 of the drawings, I have diagrammatically illustrated the general operation of my coil winding apparatus as disclosed especially in FIG. 4 of the drawings. I

Diagram A of FIG. 9 discloses the position of the strand and the various elements justas thestrand is becoming tight and just prior to movement of the head 81 and sleeve 211. upwardly to the full line position of FIG. 4 in order to provide the loose strand of wire 217 for winding about the core.

Diagram B illustrates the core holder 81 in its uppermost position forming the slack 217 in the wire strand for winding about the core, while Diagram C shows the core holder back in lowermost position after the loose strand 217 has been wound about the core.

Iclairn: I g

1. Apparatus for winding a strand about a core including, a pair of spaced apart rotatable means on which sufficient strand is wound to completely wind the core and between which the strand extends,mechanism for rotating said pair of rotatable means in the core winding operation, core holding means for holding a core intermediate said rotatable means with the strand extending through. said core, and mounting means fors'upporting said core holding means for vertical reciprocation, said core holding means being movable verti- I cally the taut strand when a length of loose strand has been wound around'the core and the strand extending between said pair of rotatable means is taut to provide a further length of loose strand for winding around the core.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a vertically reciprocable sleeve, a tube upon which said sleeve reciprocates, a source of pressured fluid in communication with said tube, and valve means at the top of said tube which is opened when said sleeve is moved vertically under the action of the taut strand to permit pressured fluid to enter said sleeve and move it further vertically to form the length of loose strand for winding on the core.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pair of spaced apart rotatable means comprises an upper and a lower pulley, and a shield is mounted adjacent to but removed from each side of said pulleys, and a flat member is positioned closely adjacent to but removed from each of said shields providing an area adjacent to said strand where it extends between said pulleys and having an open side directed toward said strand to receive therein a loose length of strand provided by operation of said mounting means.

4. Apparatus for winding strand about a core, including in combination, a pair of spaced apart pulleys, a housing therefor and said pulleys being journaled in said housing and a part of the rims of said pulleys extending outside the housing, mounting means for said housing operable to permit removal of the housing from the apparatus and insertion thereof into the apparatus, pulley drive means in operative engagement with the part of the rim of one pulley which extends outside the housing, a core to be wound with a length of loose strand, core holding means for holding said core in position between said pulleys and the strand extending through the core, and further means operable to provide a length of loose strand for winding around the core.

5. Apparatus for winding a strand about a core, including in combination, mechanism for causing travel of the strand, core holding means for holding a core in the path of travel of the strand for winding loose lengths of said strand thereabout, mounting means for said core holding means, means operable to afford free reciprocable movement of said core holding means relative to said mounting means, said core holding means being in one position relative to said mounting means when a loose strand is being wound about the core and being movable by a taut length of strand to another position relative to said mounting means. 

1. Apparatus for winding a strand about a core including, a pair of spaced apart rotatable means on which sufficient strand is wound to completely wind the core and between which the strand extends, mechanism for rotating said pair of rotatable means in the core winding operation, core holding means for holding a core intermediate said rotatable means with the strand extending through said core, and mounting means for supporting said core holding means for vertical reciprocation, said core holding means being movable vertically by the taut strand when a length of loose strand has been wound around the core and the strand extending between said pair of rotatable means is taut to provide a further length of loose strand for winding around the core.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a vertically reciprocable sleeve, a tube upon which said sleeve reciprocates, a source of pressured fluid in communication with said tube, and valve means at the top of said tube which is opened when said sleeve is moved vertically under the action of the taut strand to permit pressured fluid to enter said sleeve and move it further vertically to form the length of loose strand for winding on the core.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pair of spaced apart rotatable means comprises an upper and a lower pulley, and a shield is mounted adjacent to but removed from each side of said pulleys, and a flat member is positioned closely adjacent to but removed from each of said shields providing an area adjacent to said strand where it extends between said pulleys and having an open side directed toward said strand to receive therein a loose length of strand provided by operation of said mounting means.
 4. Apparatus for winding strand about a core, including in combination, a pair of spaced apart pulleys, a housing therefor and said pulleys being journaled in said housing and a part of the rims of said pulleys extending outside the housing, mounting means for said housing operable to permit removal of the housing from the apparatus and insertion thereof into the apparatus, pulley drive means in operative engagement with the part of the rim of one pulley which extends outside the housing, a core to be wound with a length of loose strand, core holding means for holding said core in position between said pulleys and the strand extending through the core, and further means operable to provide a length of loose strand for winding around the core.
 5. Apparatus for winding a strand about a core, including in combination, mechanism for causing travel of the strand, core holding means for holding a core in the path of travel of the strand for winding loose lengths of said strand thereabout, mounting means for said core holding means, means operable to afford free reciprocable movement of said core holding means relative to said mounting means, said core holding meanS being in one position relative to said mounting means when a loose strand is being wound about the core and being movable by a taut length of strand to another position relative to said mounting means. 